diff --git a/.dockerignore b/.dockerignore
index 9af8280..dfeca22 100644
--- a/.dockerignore
+++ b/.dockerignore
@@ -1,11 +1,36 @@
 # More info: https://docs.docker.com/engine/reference/builder/#dockerignore-file
-# Ignore everything by default and re-include only needed files
-**
+# Compatible with both Docker and Podman
+# Use explicit exclusions (not negation patterns) for better compatibility
 
-# Re-include Go source files (but not *_test.go)
-!**/*.go
+# Build artifacts and unnecessary files
+bin/
+dist/
+.git/
+.github/
+docs/
+examples/
+hack/
+test/
+*.md
+*.tape
+*.gif
+*.mp4
+*.svg
+*.png
+
+# Test files
 **/*_test.go
 
-# Re-include Go module files
-!go.mod
-!go.sum
+# Cache directories
+.cache/
+
+# IDE and editor files
+.vscode/
+.idea/
+*.swp
+*.swo
+*~
+
+# OS files
+.DS_Store
+Thumbs.db
diff --git a/CONTEXT.md b/CONTEXT.md
index 3a349c2..3c27c9e 100644
--- a/CONTEXT.md
+++ b/CONTEXT.md
@@ -96,7 +96,8 @@ generated: config/rbac/*.yaml (multiple files via kubebuilder)
 ### Build and Deploy
 
 * `make build` - builds controller binary
-* `make docker-build` - builds container image
+* `make docker-build` - builds container image with Docker
+* `make podman-build` - builds container image with Podman
 * `make deploy` - deploys to current kubectl context
 * `make undeploy` - removes deployment
 
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 5f9c8ef..1086ca3 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -62,8 +62,12 @@ CONTROLLER_GEN_PKG := sigs.k8s.io/controller-tools/cmd/controller-gen
 IMG_PREFIX ?= controller
 IMG_TAG ?= latest
 
-# ENABLE_METRICS: If set to true, includes Prometheus Service resources.
+# Kind cluster name for loading images
+KIND_CLUSTER ?= nrr-test
+
+# ENABLE_METRICS: If set to true, includes Prometheus Service and ServiceMonitor resources.
 ENABLE_METRICS ?= false
+# ENABLE_TLS: If set to true (and ENABLE_METRICS is true), configures metrics to use HTTPS with CertManager.
 ENABLE_TLS ?= false
 # ENABLE_WEBHOOK: If set to true, includes validating webhook. Requires ENABLE_TLS=true.
 ENABLE_WEBHOOK ?= false
@@ -173,11 +177,16 @@ run: manifests generate fmt vet ## Run a controller from your host.
 	go run ./cmd/main.go
 
 # If you wish to build the manager image targeting other platforms you can use the --platform flag.
-# (i.e. docker build --platform linux/arm64). However, you must enable docker buildKit for it.
+# (i.e. docker build --platform linux/arm64 or podman build --platform linux/arm64).
+# However, you must enable docker buildKit for it.
 # More info: https://docs.docker.com/develop/develop-images/build_enhancements/
 .PHONY: docker-build
-docker-build: ## Build docker image with the manager.
-	DOCKER_BUILDKIT=1 $(CONTAINER_TOOL) build -t ${IMG_PREFIX}:${IMG_TAG} .
+docker-build: ## Build container image with Docker.
+	DOCKER_BUILDKIT=1 docker build -t ${IMG_PREFIX}:${IMG_TAG} .
+
+.PHONY: podman-build
+podman-build: ## Build container image with Podman.
+	podman build -t localhost/${IMG_PREFIX}:${IMG_TAG} .
 
 .PHONY: docker-push
 docker-push: ## Push docker image with the manager.
@@ -197,9 +206,29 @@ docker-buildx: ## Build and push docker image for the manager for cross-platform
 	- $(CONTAINER_TOOL) buildx build --push --platform=$(PLATFORMS) --tag ${IMG_PREFIX}:${IMG_TAG} .
 	- $(CONTAINER_TOOL) buildx rm nrrcontroller-builder
 
+.PHONY: kind-load
+kind-load: ## Load the built image into kind cluster
+ifeq ($(CONTAINER_TOOL),podman)
+	@echo "Loading Podman image into kind cluster: $(KIND_CLUSTER)"
+	@echo "Saving image to temporary tar archive..."
+	@$(CONTAINER_TOOL) save -o /tmp/controller-image.tar localhost/$(IMG_PREFIX):$(IMG_TAG)
+	@echo "Loading tar archive into kind cluster..."
+	@kind load image-archive /tmp/controller-image.tar --name $(KIND_CLUSTER)
+	@echo "Cleaning up temporary tar archive..."
+	@rm /tmp/controller-image.tar
+	@echo "Image loaded successfully!"
+else
+	@echo "Loading Docker image into kind cluster: $(KIND_CLUSTER)"
+	@kind load docker-image $(IMG_PREFIX):$(IMG_TAG) --name $(KIND_CLUSTER)
+endif
+
 .PHONY: docker-build-reporter
-docker-build-reporter: ## Build docker image with the reporter.
-	DOCKER_BUILDKIT=1 $(CONTAINER_TOOL) build -f Dockerfile.reporter -t ${IMG_PREFIX}:${IMG_TAG} .
+docker-build-reporter: ## Build reporter container image with Docker.
+	DOCKER_BUILDKIT=1 docker build -f Dockerfile.reporter -t ${IMG_PREFIX}:${IMG_TAG} .
+
+.PHONY: podman-build-reporter
+podman-build-reporter: ## Build reporter container image with Podman.
+	podman build -f Dockerfile.reporter -t ${IMG_PREFIX}:${IMG_TAG} .
 
 .PHONY: docker-push-reporter
 docker-push-reporter: ## Push docker image with the reporter.
diff --git a/docs/TEST_README.md b/docs/TEST_README.md
index 8d1ba17..38bae5b 100644
--- a/docs/TEST_README.md
+++ b/docs/TEST_README.md
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ The test uses a 3-node Kind cluster:
 
 ### Prerequisites
 
--   [Docker](https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/)
+-   [Docker](https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/) or [Podman](https://podman.io/getting-started/installation)
 -   [Kind](https://kind.sigs.k8s.io/docs/user/quick-start/#installation)
 -   [kubectl](https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/tools/install-kubectl/)
 -   [Go](https://golang.org/doc/install)
@@ -38,21 +38,44 @@ make install
 
 Build the controller image and load it into the Kind cluster nodes.
 
+**Using Docker:**
 ```bash
-# Build the image
-make docker-build IMG_PREFIX=controller IMG_TAG=latest
+# Build the image (uses defaults: IMG_PREFIX=controller IMG_TAG=latest)
+make docker-build
 
-# Load the image into the kind cluster
-kind load docker-image controller:latest --name nrr-test
+# Load the image into the kind cluster (uses default: KIND_CLUSTER=nrr-test)
+make kind-load
+
+# Verify the image is loaded
+docker exec -it nrr-test-control-plane crictl images | grep controller
+```
+
+**Using Podman:**
+```bash
+# Build the image (uses defaults: IMG_PREFIX=controller IMG_TAG=latest)
+make podman-build
+
+# Load the image into the kind cluster (uses default: KIND_CLUSTER=nrr-test)
+make kind-load CONTAINER_TOOL=podman
+
+# Verify the image is loaded
+podman exec -it nrr-test-control-plane crictl images | grep controller
 ```
 
 ### Step 3: Controller Deployment
 
-Deploy the controller image to nrr-test-worker
+Deploy the controller to the cluster.
+
+**Using Docker:**
 ```bash
 make deploy IMG_PREFIX=controller IMG_TAG=latest
 ```
 
+**Using Podman:**
+```bash
+make deploy IMG_PREFIX=localhost/controller IMG_TAG=latest
+```
+
 Verify the controller is running on the control plane node (`nrr-test-control-plane`):
 ```bash
 kubectl get pods -n nrr-system -o wide